GARRETSON

Martha Easterling Garretson, 77, of Knoxville, Tenn., and formerly of Van Wert, died Friday morning, August 21, 2009.

She was born August 17, 1932, the daughter of the late Carl Easterling and Mabel Easterling Clawson. She had been married to Harold Stemen, who survives.

Other survivors include five sons, David Stemen of Knoxville, Rob Stemen of Van Wert, Chris Stemen of Ohio City, Jaime Stemen of North Carolina and Mark Stemen, no address listed; a daughter, Tracie Stemen Vincent of Willshire; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her stepfather, Edgar Clawson; a daughter, Holly Semer; two brothers, Carl and Wayne Easterling; one sister, Peggy Reed; and a granddaughter, also preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 25, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until time of services on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at cowanfh@yahoo.com.

GRABNER

Charles R. “Dick” Grabner, 88, of Roanoke, Ind., died at 8:50 a.m. Friday, August 21, 2009, at Hospice Home in Fort Wayne, Ind.

He was born November 30, 1923, in Monroeville, Ind., the son of the late Grover C. and Leona (Leonard) Grabner. On March 6, 1947, he married Audrey M. (Frederick) Grabner in Maples, Ind., and she survives in Roanoke.

Mr. Grabner was a salesman for Sears, Roebuck in Fort Wayne for 40 years, retiring in 1984. Following his retirement, he worked at Brookwood Golf Course as a groundskeeper from 1984-2009.

He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was a corporal in Battery 1, 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He served in the defense of New Zealand during the Guadalcanal Campaign, participated in the campaigns at Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa and, following the Japanese surrender after the second atomic bomb was dropped, performed occupation duty in Nagasaki, Japan, until his discharge in late 1945. He was forever dedicated to the United States and the Marine Corps – semper fi. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10205, American Legion Post 420 and its color guard, both in Monroeville. He was a graduate of Monroeville High School’s Class of 1941. He enjoyed golfing, woodworking, gardening, playing cards and his grandkids.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, David F. (Cindy) Grabner of Roanoke; two daughters, Lois A. (Stephen) Gehres of Van Wert and Joy S. (Mike) Lasley of Fort Wayne; four brothers, Donald K. (Kayte) Grabner, Dale K. Grabner, Lindy L. (Imogene) Grabner and Loren R. (Colleen) Grabner, all of Monroeville; three sisters, Audrey V. Swanson of Duluth, Minn., and Eileen E. Sloan and Sharon Sue (Richard) Darras, both of Monroeville; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A brother, Arnold Grabner, also preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Jacobs Chapel, in Monroeville, with the Rev. Kathleen Miller officiating. Burial will be in Monroeville Memorial Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 25, at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: Riley Children’s Hospital or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home.

For complete obituary information and to sign the online guestbook, visit www.zwickjahn.com.

MILLER

Nathan Alexander Miller, 13, of Delphos, died at 1:14 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2009, at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne, Ind.

He was born May 17, 1996, in Fort Wayne, Ind., the son of Sam and Angie (Gonyea) Miller, both of whom survive in Delphos.

Other survivors include a sister, Sarah Miller, at home; paternal grandparents, Jeff (Mary) Miller of Delphos; maternal grandparents, Vern (Jane) Gonyea of Delphos; and several aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 25, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Delphos, with Rev. Katherine Olson officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos.

The family will receive friends from 2-8 p.m. Monday, August 24, at Harter and Schier Funeral Home in Delphos.

Preferred memorials: The family.